The purpose of this study was to determine status, number and present level of productivity of autochthonous goats raised in Central Serbia on smallholder farms. Study included quality breeding animals of Balkan and Serbian white goat breed registered in Central herd book. Productivity data were collected from regular annual performance recordings at 11 smallholder farms for 145 Balkan does (2-9 years of age) and 203 kids and 83 Serbian white does (2-10 years of age) and 109 kids. Traits recorded were as follows: body weight of does, body weight of kids at birth, at the age of 30 days and at weaning, prolificacy of does and milk production. The analysis showed the average body weight of does to be 43.07 kg for Balkan does and 47.42 kg for Serbian white does. Average body weight of kids at birth, 30 days of age and weaning was 2.22 kg, 6.87 kg and 15.71 kg, respectively for Balkan breed and 3.66 kg, 7.24 kg and 14.23 kg for Serbian white breed. Prolificacy was 140% in Balkan and 131% in Serbian white does. Among dairy production traits, following results were obtained for Balkan and Serbian white goat respectively: lactation length 199 and 229 days, total milk yield 257.89 kg and 459.49 kg, milk fat content 4.03% and 3.79%, milk protein content 3.06% and 3.35%. Number of quality breeding animals registered at Central herd book in 2018, as presented in Institute for Animal Husbandry?s annual report for goats for Central Serbia in 2018, was 159 for Balkan and 138 for Serbian white goat. As these breeds represent a valuable and irreplaceable source of genetic variability, as well as very important cultural and traditional heritage and further emphasis should be on preserving and increasing their number. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR-31053]

IGFBP-3 is responsible for the multiple effects of growth factors in most mammalian species and is considered the major transport factor of growth, used as a marker for different body functions such as growth, metabolism, reproduction, body weight control, immunity, energy balance, and so on. Considered as a candidate gene, used as a marker for the growth and production traits as its essential role in the growth and development of the animals. For the DNA extraction, the blood samples are obtained in the jugular vein using a 10 ml vacutainer containing EDTA as a coagulant in the blood collection of each animal Mis breed of sheep (M), Ile de France (F), and Wurttemberg (W). Isolation of DNA performed using the extraction kit (Quick DNA kit) with primers set the Forward and Reverse. The body weights of lambs from birth to 90 days of age, also been calculated. The results of the agarose gel electrophoresis of PCR amplified IGFBP-3 genes for sheep populations Wurttemberg (W), Mis (M), and Ile de France (F) had 654 bp. In our results showed an absence of polymorphism of the IGFBP-3 gene on the tested sheep populations. The results that there is no polymorphism between the examined sheep breeds, in terms of IGFBP-3 genes, we were interested whether there are differences in the body development of lambs of the mentioned populations because IGFBP-3 is related to the growth of animals. All three breeds have similar weights and growth dynamics, which could link to the growth hormone. Analyzing obtained results, we can suggest that absence of a large difference in the growth of the three breeds of sheep W, M, F does not have to be related to the absence of polymorphism of the IGFBP-3 gene but also other genetic and non-genetic factors can affect this trait. To detect the association between genetic polymorphism in IGFBP-3 genes and body development in lambs, DNA sequencing is required, which will be the subject of our future research.

DNA analysis can have great practical application in the management and successful operation of the farm. The application of DNA technology is becoming a tremendous challenge for farm breeding of domestic animals. In recent years, traditional selection methods have been supplement by the results of molecular analysis of the genome. Determining the genetic distance of sheep and goat breeds had practical and multiple significance. Microsatellites are used widely in the selection, and genomic selection is becoming an increasing challenge for breeders. The development of SNP chips brings an immense advanced for rapid and comprehensive analysis of the genome, which is of great importance for the successful selection and Genomic selection in sheep concentrated on all aspects of genetic and production directions. However, it should be noted that genomic selections in sheep breeding, and especially in goat breeding, take place at a slower pace compared to cattle breeding.

The strategy of conservation of endangered sheep populations implies morphological and genetic characterization, as basic preconditions for their conservation. The aim of this study was to determine the morphometric characteristics, their correlations and the index of physical development of Pirot pramenka, which has the status of the most endangered population in Serbia. The measuring was performed on 30 sheep, aged 3 years, reared in the area of Stara Planina. The descriptive statistical procedure was performed using the statistical package Statistica (version 8). The average height at the withers was 56.31 cm, body length 62.93 cm, chest width 18.37 cm, chest depth 25.96 cm, chest circumference 77.59 cm, shin circumference 6.70 cm. The strongest and significantly positive correlation (P <0.05) was found between chest depth and height at withers (0.65), body length (0.58) and body weight (0.56). Pirotska pramenka has slightly higher indices of format, chest and massiveness, in relation to breeds Vitoroga Zuja and Travnik Pramenka. These morphometric traits suggest that, compared to previous research, the body frame of Pirot pramenka sheep did not change significantly, which means that there were no crosses with other breeds due to geographical isolation and enthusiasm of breeders to preserve the indigenous Pirot pramenka which was the starting point for following authentic brands: Pirot lamb, cheese and carpet. Hence the biological and moral imperative: to preserve this highly endangered population.

Lipska sheep is an autochthonous Serbian population from the group of Pramenka (Zapfel) sheep, bred in the area around Smederevo, Pozarevac and Mladenovac. The average weight of male animals (BW) is 95 kg and 62 kg of female animals. Other measurements of female animals are: wither height (WH) 74 cm, body length (BL) 78 cm, chest width (CW) 23 cm, chest depth (CD) 40 cm and hearth girth (HG) 91 cm. In the last sixty years, adult female animals gained in average ten kilograms of weight. Other linear measures also increased. The increase is a consequence of better animal management, especially improved diet. Since the reduction of the size of the population, larger animals have dominated, which probably caused the change in the genetic constitution of the breed. Female animals of Lipska sheep are higher compared to the animals of other fifteen Pramenka breeds with the exception of Istrian sheep. The area from which Lipska sheep originates has better soil and richer vegetation compared to the areas of other Pramenka breeds. Partial correlations corrected for weight between individual linear measures were positive, with values between 0.196 and 0.814. Most correlations range between 0.30 and 0.55. Body measurements were studied with ANOVA on females only. The effect of flock influenced all linear measures with the exception of CW, whereas the age of animals had no effect on BL, CW and CD. The increase of individual linear measures was 0.5 to 2.1 mm per kg of BW. The increase of most body measurements from the first to the fifth year was statistically significant (P<0.05).